Photon source comprising a plurality of optical sources and an optical shell to receive the light emitted by the optical source

ABSTRACT

A photon source may be composed of a substrate defining a planar surface, an optical shell having an annular base surface disposed above the substrate, and a plurality of optical sources. Each optical source may be composed of a mirror and an optical emitter aligned with the mirror along an optical axis. The mirror may be configured to reflect a collimated optical beam emitted by the optical emitter onto the annular base surface. The mirrors of the plurality of optical sources may be arranged in a first ring-like configuration. The annular base surface may be disposed above the first ring-like configuration. The optical emitters of the plurality of optical sources may be arranged in a second ring-like configuration. In one aspect, the optical shell may be a hollow frustum. In another aspect, a focus lens may be disposed between the substrate and the optical shell.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND STATEMENT OF PRIORITY

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/611,855 entitled FIBER OPTIC PHOTON ENGINE filedDec. 29, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety and for all purposes. Applicant of the presentpatent application is also the owner of the following applications,filed on even day herewith, each of which in herein incorporated byreference in its entirety and for all purposes:

-   -   PCT Patent Application entitled FIBER PHOTON ENGINE COMPRISING        CYLINDRICALLY ARRANGED PLANAR RING OF DIODES COUPLED INTO A        CAPILLARY/SHELL FIBER, Attorney Docket No. 170731PCT; and    -   PCT Patent Application entitled FIBER OPTIC PHOTON ENGINE,        Attorney Docket No. 170730PCT.

BACKGROUND

Laser light has been used in a number of applications including, withoutlimitation, telecommunications, medicine, research, and industrialapplications. The required application may determine the power of thelaser light necessary, from low power applications (for example opticalmetrology) to high power applications (for example industrial cuttingand welding applications). High power lasers may be of particular use inautomated or robotic cutting stations for repeatable high precisioncutting of material such as steel and other metals. Various types oflasers may include, without limitation, gas lasers, chemical lasers, dyelasers, metal-vapor lasers, solid-state lasers, and semiconductorlasers. Of the types of lasers available, semiconductor lasers may havethe highest electrical-to-optical efficiency, which may exceed 50%. Itmay be understood that a high efficiency laser may be preferred for itsability to convert more electrical power to output optical power thanlower efficiency lasers. However, the power output of a singlesemiconductor laser is fairly low compared to other types of lasers.

Therefore, it would be highly desirable to combine the output ofmultiple semiconductor lasers to produce a high power output laser beamthat may take advantage of the efficiency of the electrical-to-opticalpower conversion of the semiconductor lasers.

SUMMARY

An aspect of a photon source may be composed of a substrate defining aplanar surface, an optical shell comprising a hollow frustum, and aplurality of optical sources. The hollow frustum may have an annularbase surface having a first outer diameter and a top surface having asecond outer diameter, and the annular base surface may be disposedabove the planar surface. In some aspects, each optical source may becomposed of a mirror disposed on the substrate having a reflectingsurface defining a first predetermined angle relative to the planarsurface of the substrate, and an optical emitter disposed on thesubstrate. In some aspects, the reflecting surface may be configured toreflect a collimated optical beam incident on the reflecting surfaceaway from the planar surface of the substrate at a second predeterminedangle relative to the planar surface of the substrate. In some aspects,the optical emitter may be optically aligned with the mirror along anoptical axis and configured to emit the collimated optical beam alongthe optical axis. In some aspects, the mirror may be configured toreflect the collimated optical beam onto the annular base surface of theoptical shell. In some aspects, a plurality of mirrors may becollectively composed of each mirror of the plurality of opticalsources, and the plurality of mirrors may be arranged in a firstring-like configuration defining a first diameter. In some aspects, theannular base surface of the optical shell may be disposed above thefirst ring-like configuration of the plurality of mirrors. In someaspects, a plurality of optical emitters may be collectively composed ofeach optical emitter of the plurality of optical sources, and theplurality of optical emitters may be arranged in a second ring-likeconfiguration defining a second diameter. In some aspects, the firstdiameter is smaller than the second diameter and the second ring-likeconfiguration is concentric with the first ring-like configuration.

An aspect of a photon source may be composed of a substrate defining aplanar surface, a focus lens disposed above the planar surface, thefocus lens defining an acceptance angle, an optical shell comprising ahollow frustum, and a plurality of optical sources. In some aspects, thehollow frustum may have an annular base surface with a first outerdiameter and a top surface having a second outer diameter, and theannular base surface may be disposed above the focus lens. In oneaspect, each optical source may be composed of a mirror disposed on thesubstrate having a reflecting surface defining a first predeterminedangle relative to the planar surface of the substrate, and an opticalemitter disposed on the substrate, in which the optical emitter may beoptically aligned with the mirror along an optical axis and configuredto emit a collimated optical beam along the optical axis. In one aspect,the reflecting surface may be configured to reflect the collimatedoptical beam incident on the reflecting surface away from the planarsurface of the substrate at a second predetermined angle relative to theplanar surface of the substrate. In one aspect, the mirror may beconfigured to reflect the collimated optical beam within the acceptanceangle of the focus lens. In one aspect, the focus lens may be configuredto direct an optical output of the lens onto the annular base surface ofthe optical shell. In one aspect, a plurality of mirrors maycollectively be composed of each mirror of the plurality of opticalsources, and the plurality of mirrors may arranged in a first ring-likeconfiguration defining a first diameter. In one aspect, the focus lensmay be disposed above the first ring-like configuration of the pluralityof mirrors. In one aspect, a plurality of optical emitters may becollectively composed of each optical emitter of the plurality ofoptical sources, and the plurality of optical emitters may be arrangedin a second ring-like configuration defining a second diameter. In oneaspect, the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and thesecond ring-like configuration is concentric with the first ring-likeconfiguration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The features of the various aspects are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. The various aspects, however, both as toorganization and methods of operation, together with advantages thereof,may best be understood by reference to the following description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a side plan view and atop plan view, respectively, of a laser diode according to one aspect ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a first aspect of a laser photon sourceaccording to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of a side plan view and atop plan view, respectively, of an optical emitter including a laserdiode, a fast-axis collimating lens, and a slow-axis collimating lens,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a second aspect of a laser photon sourceaccording to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a schematic perspective view and a plan sideview, respectively, of a third aspect of a laser photon source accordingto one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6A is an illustration of a fourth aspect of a laser photon sourceaccording to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B is an illustration of multiple optical emitters disposed about apolygonal pyramid in which the individual faces of the polygonal pyramidform mirror surfaces for the fourth aspect of a laser photon source asdepicted in FIG. 6A, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the use of a beam twister for the fourthaspect of a laser photon source as depicted in FIG. 6A, according to oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a fifth aspect of a laser photon sourcehaving optical emitters disposed orthogonal to the disposition of theemitters depicted in the first aspect of a laser photon source asdepicted in FIG. 2, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a sixth aspect of a laser photon source,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a seventh aspect of a laser photon source,according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10A is an end view of an optical shell component of the seventhaspect of a laser photon source, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically the positioning of an optical shell asdepicted in FIG. 9 above a plurality of reflecting mirrors, according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically the taper of an optical shell of theaspect of the laser photon source as depicted in FIG. 9, according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13A illustrates schematically the base surface of an optical shellof the aspects of a laser photon source as depicted in FIG. 9 or FIG.10, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13B illustrates schematically the base surface of an optical shellof the aspects of a laser photon source wherein the optical shellfurther comprises a cladding on an outer surface and at least part of aninner surface, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates schematically the focusing of the outputs ofmultiple optical emitters on a base surface of the optical shelldepicted in FIG. 13B, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15A illustrates schematically the refractive index of the opticalshell depicted in FIG. 13A, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15B illustrates schematically the refractive index of the opticalshell depicted in FIG. 136, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 16 illustrates schematically an automated laser cutting or weldingdevice in which the working laser uses the laser photon source as alaser pump, according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 illustrates schematically an automated laser cutting or weldingdevice in which the laser photon source is the working laser, accordingto one aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects are described to provide an overall understanding of thestructure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methodsdisclosed herein. One or more examples of these aspects are illustratedin the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that the devices and methods specifically described hereinand illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting aspectsand that the scope of the various aspects is defined solely by theclaims. The features illustrated or described in connection with oneaspect may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features of otheraspects. Such modifications and variations are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the claims.

The present disclosure describes a variety of aspects of a laser photonsource. In some aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a laserphoton source including a plurality of optical emitters, in which eachoptical emitter is disposed on a substrate and wherein each opticalemitter is optically aligned with a mirror along an optical axis andconfigured to emit a collimated optical beam along the optical axis. Insome aspects, a plurality of mirrors comprises a combination of themirrors and the plurality of mirrors is arranged in a first ring-likeconfiguration defining a first diameter, and wherein a plurality ofoptical emitters is arranged in a second ring-like configurationdefining a second diameter.

It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particularaspects or aspects described, as such may vary. It is also to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular aspects or aspects only, and is not intended to belimiting, since the scope of the apparatus, system, and method forcombining the optical power of a large number of semiconductor lasers,and coupling this power into an optical fiber is defined only by theappended claims.

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a side view and a top view, respectively, of alaser diode 100. The laser diode 100 may have a p-i-n structureincluding a p-cladding section 102, an n-cladding section 106, and anintrinsic layer 104 disposed therebetween. The intrinsic layer 104 isthe active layer where charge carriers are injected from the p-claddingsection 102 and the n-cladding section 106 when the diode 100 is forwardbiased. The charge carriers in the intrinsic region 104 may recombineunder stimulated emission producing the laser output light 108 emittedfrom the output facet 110. The output light 108 divergence 112 b alongan axis co-planar with the active region is much less than the outputlight divergence 112 a along an axis orthogonal to the plane of theactive region. The co-planar axis having the low light divergence 112 bis frequently termed the “slow-axis” and the orthogonal axis having thehigh light divergence 112 a is frequently termed the “fast-axis.” Thelaser output light 108 is generally polarized in the slow-axis plane.

FIG. 2 depicts a first aspect of a laser photon source 200. In someaspects, the laser photon source 200 may include a substrate 220defining a planar surface, a focus lens 230 defining an acceptance angledisposed above the planar surface, and a plurality of optical sources.The substrate 220 may include any number of optical sources disposedthereon. The focus lens 230 may act to focus laser light emitted by eachof the optical sources onto an end surface of an optical fiber core 252of an optical fiber 250. The optical fiber 250 may also include anexternal cladding 253. In some aspects, the optical fiber 250 may be anoptical fiber cable. Each optical source may include a mirror 242disposed on the substrate 220 having a reflecting surface defining afirst predetermined angle relative to the planar surface of thesubstrate 220. Each mirror 242 reflecting surface may be configured toreflect a collimated optical beam incident on the reflecting surfaceaway from the planar surface of the substrate 220 at a secondpredetermined angle relative to the planar surface of the substrate 220.Each optical source may also include an optical emitter 240 disposed onthe substrate 220 in which the optical emitter 240 is optically alignedwith the mirror 242 along an optical axis 244 and configured to emit thecollimated optical beam along the optical axis 244. Each mirror 242 maybe configured to reflect the collimated optical beam within theacceptance angle of the focus lens 230. Further, a plurality of mirrorsmay be defined as a combination of each mirror 242 of the plurality ofoptical sources, and the plurality of mirrors may be arranged in a firstring-like configuration defining a first diameter 246. The focus lens230 may be disposed above the first ring-like configuration of theplurality of mirrors. Further, a plurality of optical emitters may bedefined as a collection of each optical emitter 240 of the plurality ofoptical sources, and the plurality of optical emitters may be arrangedin a second ring-like configuration defining a second diameter 248. Thefirst diameter 246 of the plurality of mirrors is smaller than thesecond diameter 248 of optical emitters, and the second ring-likeconfiguration is concentric with the first ring-like configuration.

The plurality of optical sources disposed on the substrate may posses anN-fold rotational axis of symmetry orthogonal to the planar surface ofthe substrate 220, in which N is an integer that ranges from about 2 toabout 50 depending on the size of the emitters and their individualangular divergences of the diodes 201. Non-limiting examples of theN-fold rotational axis of symmetry may have a value of N of about 2,about 3, about 4, about 5, about 10, about 15, about 20, about 30, about40, about 50, or any integer value therebetween including endpoints.

In some aspects, the substrate 220 defines a circular periphery. In someaspects, the substrate 200 may define a polygonal periphery comprising aplurality of sides. In some aspects, the plurality of sides may rangefrom 2 to 50. Non-limiting examples of the number of polygonal sides maybe about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 10, about 15, about 20,about 30, about 40, about 50, or any integer value therebetweenincluding endpoints. In some aspects, each optical emitter 240 of theplurality of optical sources is disposed adjacent to one of theplurality of sides of the polygonal periphery.

The optical emitter 240 of each of the plurality of optical sources mayinclude a laser diode 201 configured to emit an optical beam (108, seeFIGS. 1A,B), from an output facet (110, see FIGS. 1A,B) Each laser diode201 may be mounted on the substrate 220, which may be configured todissipate heat generated by each laser diode 201 when each laser diode201 receives electrical power. The emitted optical beam (108, see FIGS.1A,B) by each laser diode 201 may have a wavelength in a range of about200 nm to about 2000 nm. In some non-limiting examples, the wavelengthof the emitted optical beam (108, see FIGS. 1A,B) by each laser diode201 may have a wavelength of about 200 nm, about 300 nm, about 400 nm,about 500 nm, about 700 nm, about 1000 nm, about 1100 nm, about 1200 nm,about 1500 nm, about 2000 nm, or any value or range of valuestherebetween including endpoints.

In some aspects, the set of reflecting mirrors 242, also arranged in aring like fashion, can reflect over a variety of angles. In someaspects, the angle is about 45 degrees so that the reflected beam isperpendicular to the disk. In some other aspects, the mirror angle mayrange between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees. However, it may berecognized that the mirror angle may be larger or smaller than thisrange depending on the incorporation of additional lenses to receive thelight reflected from the mirrors In some aspects, multiple lensesdiffering in their optical properties may be included and disposedbetween the mirrors and an end surface of an optic fiber or an opticfiber coupler. In some non-limiting examples, the mirror angle may havea value of about 10 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 20 degrees, about25 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 35 degrees, about 40 degrees, about45 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 55 degrees, about 60 degrees, about65 degrees, about 70 degrees, or any value or range of valuestherebetween including endpoints.

In some aspects, the ring of mirrors can take on different shapes,including a polygon of N-sides, in which N can range anywhere from 2 toa larger number such as 50. Non-limiting examples of the number ofpolygonal sides N may be about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 10,about 15, about 20, about 30, about 40, about 50, or any integer valuetherebetween including endpoints. In some aspects, the plurality ofmirrors may be cylindrically arranged.

Although FIG. 2 depicts the plurality of mirrors as comprising aplurality of individual mirrors 242, it may be recognized that themirrors may be defined as the sides of a polygonal pyramid disposed onthe planar surface of the substrate 220, the polygonal pyramid having abase defining the first diameter. The polygonal pyramid may have thesame number of sides as the number of optical emitters 240 (see FIG.6B).

Additionally, each optical emitter 240 may include a first collimatinglens 202 optically aligned with the laser diode 201, in which the firstcollimating lens 202 (a fast-axis lens) is configured to collimate theoptical beam emitted from the laser diode 201 along the fast-axis. Asecond collimating lens 204 (a slow-axis lens) may be optically alignedwith the fast-axis lens 202 and the output facet (110, see FIGS. 1A,B)in which the slow-axis lens 204 is configured to collimate the opticalbeam emitted from the fast-axis lens 202 along the slow-axis of thelaser diode 201.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict the disposition of the fast-axis collimating lensand the slow-axis collimating lens. FIG. 3A, a side view of laser diode201, depicts the effect of the fast-axis collimating lens 202 on thefast-axis divergence of the light emitted by the laser diode 201. FIG.3b , a top view of the laser diode 201, depicts the effect of theslow-axis collimating lens 204 on the slow-axis divergence of the lightemitted by the laser diode 201. In some aspects, each of the fast-axiscollimating lens 202 and the slow-axis collimating lens 204 may be anaspheric cylindrical lens having a high numerical aperture. In someaspects, the fast-axis collimating lens 202 may have a non-reflectivecoating on its optical input side 302 and the slow-axis collimating lens204 may have a non-reflective coating on its optical input side 304.

In some additional aspects, as depicted in FIG. 2, the laser photonsource 200 may further include an optical coupler configured to receivean optical output of the focus lens 230 at a first coupler surface, andto receive an end of a fiber optic cable (for example, optical fiber250) at a second coupler surface In this aspect, the focusing lens 230may focus the beam(s) of light reflected by the plurality of mirrorsonto the end-face of an optical fiber 250 and to have it coupledefficiently. The numerical aperture of the focusing lens 230 (or itsacceptance angle) should be matched to the diameter of the ring ofmirrors (first diameter 246) and the numerical aperture of the opticalfiber 250.

FIG. 4 depicts a second aspect of a photon source 400. The aspect of thephoton source 400 depicted in FIG. 4 extends the geometry of the aspectof the photon source 200 depicted in FIG. 2 in that a second pluralityof optical emitters 440 forming a second ring is included to the firstplurality of optical emitters 240. It may be understood that the firstplurality of optical emitters 240 in FIG. 4 may have the same componentsas that plurality of optical emitters 240 disclosed with respect to FIG.2. Thus, the first plurality of optical emitters 240 in FIG. 4 mayinclude a laser diode, a fast-axis collimating lens optically alignedwith the laser diode, and a slow-axis collimating lens optically alignedwith the fast-axis collimating lens.

The output of each optical emitter 440 in the second, and outer, ring ofoptical emitters is optically coupled to the output of an opticalemitter 240 in the first, and inner, ring of optical emitters. It may beunderstood that a diameter 448 of the outer ring of optical emitters 440may be larger than the diameter 248 of the inner ring of opticalemitters 240 (as depicted in FIG. 2). In some aspects, the opticalemitters 440 may contain similar components as those of the opticalemitters 240, including, without limitation, a laser diode, a fast-axiscollimating lens, and a slow-axis collimating lens. In this manner, thetotal brightness of the photon source 400 is doubled by doubling thenumber of optical emitters on the substrate (220, see FIG. 2) that canbe coupled in to the optical fiber 250. It may be understood that thecharacteristics of the substrate used for the second aspect of thephoton source 400 may have similar properties as previously disclosedwith respect to the substrate 220 described for the aspect of the photonsource 200. Such properties may include the shape and size of thesubstrate 220 as previously disclosed.

In some aspects, the output of the second (outer) ring laser diode maybe combined with the output of an inner ring laser diode usingpolarization multiplexing. Polarization multiplexing may rely upon anoptical combiner 445 configured to combine an emitted optical beam froma laser diode in the inner ring of optical emitters with an emittedoptical beam from a laser diode in the outer ring of optical emitters.As depicted in FIG. 4, the optical combiner 445 may include apolarization beam converter comprising a half-wave plate and apolarization beam combiner. A coupling mirror 447 may be configured toreflect the optical output of an outer ring laser diode to thepolarization beam combiner 445. The half wave plate may rotate thepolarization of the optical output of an outer ring laser diode, therebyallowing the rotated optical output of an outer ring laser diode to becombined with the un-rotated optical output of an inner ring laserdiode.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 4, the output of each laser diode, bothof the inner ring of laser diodes and of the outer ring of laser diodes,is coupled to a fast-axis collimating lens and a slow-axis collimatinglens. The optical output of the combined fast- and slow-axis collimatinglenses impinges on the beam combiner and the half-wave plate (outer ringlaser diode beams).

It may be recognized that the aspect of the photon source depicted inFIG. 4 may include any or all of the characteristics of the photonsource depicted in FIG. 2, including, but not limited to, thedisposition of the mirrors 242 and their angles with respect to thesubstrate surface, the types of laser diodes and their optical outputcharacteristics, and the disposition of the optical emitters 240, 440and optical sources about the mirrors 242 disposed on the substratesurface.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict yet another aspect of a photon source 500. FIGS.5A and 5B illustrate combining the output of multiple photon sources,such as those depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, by stacking a plurality of suchphoton sources, as individual optical source layers disposed in avertical array 510. FIG. 5A depicts two optical source layers 505 a,band FIG. 5B depicts three optical source layers 505 a,b,c. Thus, eachoptical source layer 505 a,b,c may include a plurality of opticalsources, each optical source including one or more optical emitters thatmay incorporate a laser diode, a fast-axis collimating lens, a slow-axiscollimating lens, and a mirror. It should be noted that the substrate520 a,b,c of each of the individual optical source layers 505 a,b,crespectively, has an annular shape, including a spaced region 522 a,bwithin the ring defined by the mirrors 542 a,b. The substrate 520 a,b ofeach optical source layer 505 a,b, respectively, may have the variousproperties disclosed above with respect to the embodiments of photonsources 200 and 400.

The light reflected from the plurality of mirrors (such as 542 a,b,c)from an individual optical source layer (such as 505 a,b,c respectively)in the vertical array 510 may be transmitted through the spaced regionof an individual optical source layer disposed above it in the verticalarray 510. Thus, the light reflected from the plurality of mirrors (suchas 542 b) from the optical source layer 505 b, may be transmittedthrough the spaced region 522 a of optical source layer 505 a. The laserlight produced by each individual optical source layer 505 a,b,c may betransmitted to the focusing lens 530 disposed above the vertical array510 of optical source layers 505 a,b,c. In one aspect, the focusing lens530 may be disposed in a range of about 25 mm to about 100 mm above thetop optical source layer 505 a of the vertical array 510. In somenon-limiting examples, the focusing lens 530 may be disposed at adistance above the top optical source layer 505 a of about 25 mm, about30 mm, about 40 mm, about 50 mm, about 60 mm, about 70 mm, about 80 mm,about 90 mm, about 100 mm, or at any value or range of valuestherebetween including end points. The focus lens 530 may act to focuslaser light emitted by each of the optical source layers 505 a,b onto anend surface of an optical fiber core 552 of an optical fiber 550. Theoptical fiber 550 may also include an external cladding 553. In someaspects, the optical fiber 550 may be an optical fiber cable.

The vertical array 510 may have a vertical array axis 560, and eachoptical source layer 505 a,b,c may have an annular substrate axis (forexample annular substrate axis 557 of optical source layer 505 b) thatmay be coaxial with the vertical array axis 560. Each optical sourcelayer 505 a,b,c may be defined by a substrate radius (for example,substrate radius 562 of optical source layer 505 c see FIG. 5B). In someaspects, the substrate radius 562 of a first annular substrate may beequal to the substrate radius 562 of a second annular substrate. In someaspects, the substrate radius 562 of a first annular substrate maydiffer from the substrate radius 562 of a second annular substrate.

The diameter of the spaced region 565 of the annular substrate of thesecond or third stacked optical source layer 505 b,c can be differentfrom each other so that the optical output of each optical source layeris vertical and travels unimpeded before impinging on the lens 530 (toavoid interference between different layers). Alternatively, thediameter of the spaced region 565 of the annular substrate of the secondor third stacked optical source layer 505 b,c can be the same since themirrors on a lower optical source layer in the array may be tilted to asmall angle. In this manner, each optical source layer 505 a,b,c canhave the same dimensions. In this aspect, the brightness of the lightcoupled into the fiber 550 will not be exactly doubled, but will bereduced by the angle that this beam of light subtends relative to thevertical. It may be recognized also that the angle deviation from thevertical of light emitted by an optical source layer 505 a,b,c willdepend on distance between adjacent layers and mirror 242 ringdiameters. In one non-limiting example, the diameter of the spacedregion 565 may be about 50 mm, although it may be recognized the thatdiameter of the spaced region 565 may have a value greater or less thanthis amount according to the manufacturing needs and power outputrequirement of the photon source.

In some aspects, the vertical array of photon sources may include 2optical source layers to about 10 optical source layers. However, itshould be recognized that more than 10 optical source layers may beincluded according to the manufacturing needs and power outputrequirement of the photon source 500. Non-limiting examples of thenumber of optical source layers may include 2 source layers, 3 sourcelayers, 4 source layers, 5 source layers, 6 source layers, 7 sourcelayers, 8 source layers, 9 source layers, or 10 source layers In someaspects, a vertical distance 568 between successive optical sourcelayers (for example, a vertical distance between optical source layer505 a and 505 b) may be about 30 mm. In some aspects, the verticaldistance 568 between successive optical source layers 505 may be aboutthe same. In some aspect, the vertical distance 568 between successiveoptical source layers 505 may differ. It may be recognized that, if eachphoton source in the vertical array produces a total optical output ofabout 150 W to about 200 W, the combination of even 5 layers may resultin a total optical output of about 750 W to about 1000 W, therebyincreasing the overall optical output of the array as a multiple of thenumber of optical source layers 505.

In some aspects, the vertical array 510 of individual optical sourcelayers 505 may include a plurality of equally spaced optical sourcelayers 505. In some aspects, any two adjacent optical source layers 505in the vertical array 510 may have a vertical distance 568 therebetweenthat may have a range of about 5 mm to about 30 mm. In some non-limitingexamples, the vertical distance 568 between adjacent optical sourcelayers 505 may be about 5 mm, about 10 mm, about 15 mm, about 20 mm,about 25 mm, about 30 mm, or any value or range of values therebetweenincluding endpoints.

FIG. 6A depicts yet another aspect of a photon source 600. Returning toFIGS. 2 and 3A,B, it may be recognized that a horizontal spacing betweenoptical emitters 240 may be limited by the size of the slow-axiscollimating (SLC) lenses 204. If the output light from the laser diodes201 can be rotated by 90°, the slow-axis collimating lenses 204 can alsobe rotated so that their longitudinal extent on the substrate 220 can beminimized. FIG. 6A illustrates a method of rotating laser light by meansof a beam twister 645. As an example, FIG. 6A depicts 18 opticalemitters 640 with their associated slow-axis collimating lens 604 andbeam twister 645. The beam twister 645 may be disposed between thefast-axis collimating lens of an optical emitter 640 including a laserdiode (such as 201) and the fast-axis collimating lens (such as 202),and the slow-axis collimating lens 604 and may rotate the light exitingthe fast-axis collimating lens (such as 202) by any angle, for exampleby 90°. Non-limiting examples of such an angle of light rotation mayinclude about 15°, about 30°, about 45°, about 60°, about 75°, about90°, or any value or range of values therebetween including endpoints.As depicted in FIG. 6B, the rotated slow-axis collimating lenses 604 maybe packed in a tighter ring than may be attainable for un-rotatedslow-axis collimating lenses (see FIGS. 2 and 3A,B). Comparing FIG. 6Bwith FIG. 2, one may observe that the slow-axis collimating lenses 604can be packed tighter together, and thus the ring of mirrors disposedwithin the ring of slow-axis collimating lenses 604 may also have asmaller diameter than the ring of mirrors 242 depicted in the aspect ofFIG. 2. In one aspect, the ring of mirrors may be compacted to form thesides of a single monolithic polygonal pyramidal mirror 660 in whicheach side of the pyramidal mirror 660 comprises a reflecting mirrorsurface. The monolithic polygonal pyramidal mirror 660 of reflectingsurfaces may be fabricated in a mold or may be readily cut from a blankmade from a suitable material. It may be recognized that a singlemonolithic polygonal pyramidal mirror 660 may substitute for the ring ofmirrors 242 in photon source 200 or photon source 400.

It may be understood that photon source 600 may incorporate many of thefeatures and/or characteristics of the photon sources previouslydisclosed (in some non-limiting examples, photon source 200, photonsource 400, and photon source 500). Thus, photon source 600 may includea substrate having a circular or polygonal circumference. The number ofoptical sources may be the same or greater (due to the compact geometryof the rotated slow-axis collimators). The laser diodes of the opticalemitters 640 may have similar characteristics as disclosed above withrespect to the laser diodes 201 of the optical emitters 240 of FIG. 2.The fast-axis collimators may be similarly disposed with respect to thelaser diodes as disclosed above, for example in FIGS. 3A,B. A photonsource 600 lacking the monolithic polygonal pyramidal mirror 660 mayalso have a spaced region approximately placed in the center of thesubstrate. Such an example of photon source 600 may form one of aplurality of optical source layers as depicted in photon source 500. Theshape, orientation, and optical axes associated with the mirrors ofphoton source 600 may have similar characteristics as those of themirrors 242 or 542 of photon sources 200 or 500, respectively.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a beam twister 745. The input view 700 a ofthe beam twister 745 illustrates the divergence of laser light 773exiting the fast-axis collimator 702 and impinging on an input side ofthe beam twister 745. The output view 700 b of the beam twister 745depicts the rotation of the laser light 775 emitted by the beam twister745 and impinging on an input face of a slow-axis collimator 704. In onenon-limiting example, the fast-axis collimator 702 may be characterizedas being a plano-convex acylindrical lens having an effective focallength of about 0.5 mm. Similarly, in one non-limiting example, theslow-axis collimator 704 may be characterized as being a plano-convexacylindrical lens having an effective focal length of about 25.0 mm. Itmay be understood that the geometry and optical properties of thefast-axis collimator 702 and slow-axis collimator 704 may be chosenaccording to the geometric and optical properties desired for the photonsource. It may also be understood that such characteristics of fast-axiscollimator 702 and slow-axis collimator 704 may characterize fast-axiscollimator 202 and slow-axis collimator 204 as depicted in FIGS. 2 and3. Collimators having such characteristics may be used as required inphoton sources 200, 400, 500, and 600, as disclosed above. In somenon-limiting examples, the beam twister 745 may be a symmetric bi-convexcylindrical lens rotated at about 45° with respect to the fast axis ofthe laser diode emitting the laser light. In some examples, the beamtwister 745 may have a radius of curvature of about 0.68 mm and a lengthof about 3.00 mm. In some examples, the beam twister 745 may befabricated of N-LASF9 glass.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative example of a photon source 800, inwhich the laser diodes are rotated with respect to the surface of thesubstrate 820. It may be recognized that the fast-axis collimating lens202 associated with each of the laser diodes 201 may also be similarlyrotated. In such an example, beam twisters would not be required as theoptical output of the laser diodes 201 is initially rotated with respectto the surface of the substrate 820. In some non-limiting examples, alaser diode 201 may be mounted on a heat sink 870 so that a plane of thefast-axis 808 of the laser diode 201 may be orthogonal to the plane ofthe substrate 820. In some non-limiting examples, the heat sink 870 maybe formed as a tab derived from a portion of the substrate 202 that isbent at an appropriate angle. In some alternative aspects, the heat sink870 may be formed as a block of a thermally conductive material of anyshape or size that may be placed in thermal communication with thesubstrate 820. In some additional aspects, the heat sink 870 may includefeatures such as fins that may improve the heat dissipation from thelaser diode 201. In some additional examples, the heat sink 870 may bein thermal communication with the substrate 820 so that heat generatedby the laser diode 201 may be dissipated into the substrate 820. It maybe understood that the disposition of the laser diode 201 directly onthe substrate 220 (see FIG. 2) may similarly allow heat generated by thelaser diode 201 to be dissipated by the substrate 220.

One advantage of the photon source 800 depicted in FIG. 8 is that itremoves the sensitivity of alignment of the beam twister required forproper functioning. As the photon source 800 may not require theaddition of any beam twisters, the overall cost of the photon source 800is reduced compared to the photon source 700. Chip-to-chip electricalconnectivity between laser diodes 201 may differ from that which may berequired in the aspects depicted, for example, in FIG. 2, but may be auseful trade-off of optical issues with mechanical electrical matters.

It may be recognized that the components of the aspects of the photonsources 600 and 800, as depicted in FIGS. 6A and 8 respectively, mayinclude any or all of the characteristics of the photon source depictedin FIG. 2, including, but not limited to, the disposition and number ofthe mirrors 242 and their angles with respect to the substrate surface.The optical emitters, comprising the laser diodes 201, fast-axiscollimating lenses 202 and slow-axis collimating lenses 204 of photonsource 800 may have the optical characteristics of those disclosed withrespect to photon source 200. Additionally, the geometrical dispositionof the optical emitters and optical sources about the mirrors 242 on thesubstrate surface may include similar characteristics as thosedisclosed, for example, with respect to photon source 200. Laser lightemitted from each of the optical emitters may be focused on the mirrors242, and the light maybe be reflected through a focus lens 230 to bereceived by an optical fiber. Further, the characteristics, includinggeometric characteristics, of substrate 820 may be the same aspreviously disclosed with respect to substrate 220 (see FIG. 2), forexample. Additionally, the number and disposition of optical sources(including, without limitation, mirrors, and optical emitters) disclosedwith respect to photon source 800 may be the same as those disclosedwith respect to photon source 200. A plurality of photon sources 800 maybe disposed in a vertical array, similar to the optical source layers505 as depicted in FIGS. 5A,B. Rotated laser diodes, along with theirrelated optical components and heat sinks, may be used in the dual-ringconfiguration of photon source 400.

FIGS. 9 and 10 depict yet another aspect of a photon source 900 a,b,respectively. The photon source depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10 may includethe substrate, the optical source, and mirrors as disclosed above withrespect to FIGS. 2 and 4.

Thus, in some aspects, the laser photon source 900 may include asubstrate 220 defining a planar surface on which may be disposed aplurality of optical sources. Each optical source may include a mirror242 disposed on the substrate 220 having a reflecting surface defining afirst predetermined angle relative to the planar surface of thesubstrate 220. Each mirror 242 reflecting surface may be configured toreflect a collimated optical beam incident on the reflecting surfaceaway from the planar surface of the substrate 220 at a secondpredetermined angle relative to the planar surface of the substrate 220.Further, a plurality of mirrors may be defined as a combination of eachmirror 242 of the plurality of optical sources, and the plurality ofmirrors may be arranged in a first ring-like configuration. Each opticalsource may also include an optical emitter 240 disposed on the substrate220 in which the optical emitter 240 is optically aligned with themirror 242 along an optical axis 244 and configured to emit thecollimated optical beam along the optical axis 244. Further, a pluralityof optical emitters may be defined as a collection of each opticalemitter 240 of the plurality of optical sources, and the plurality ofoptical emitters may be arranged in a second ring-like configuration.

Each optical emitter 240 may include a first collimating lens 202optically aligned with a laser diode 201, in which the first collimatinglens 202 (a fast-axis lens) is configured to collimate the optical beamemitted from the laser diode 201 along the fast-axis. A secondcollimating lens 204 (a slow-axis lens) may be optically aligned withthe fast-axis lens 202 and the output facet (110, see FIGS. 1A,B) inwhich the slow-axis lens 204 is configured to collimate the optical beamemitted from the fast-axis lens 202 along the slow-axis of the laserdiode 201.

Other features of the substrate 220 and optical sources previouslydisclosed with respect to photon source 200 may similarly apply tophoton source 900.

As depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, the outputs of the reflecting mirrors 242of photon source 900 a,b, respectively, are directed to an annular basesurface 957 of an optical shell 956. In some aspects, the diameter 963of the annular base surface 957 may be about the same as the diameter ofthe ring of mirrors 242 disposed on the substrate 220. In some aspects,the optical shell 956 may take the form of a fully or partially hollowfrustum. In some aspects, the partially hollow frustum may have a topsurface that is an annular surface having an outer diameter 960 that issmaller than the outer diameter 963 of the annular base surface 957. Insome alternative examples, the top surface of the frustum may becircular, having no annulus. The frustum may have a taper and the tapermay be an adiabatic taper. It may be recognized that an adiabatic tapermay be one in which light transmitted through the walls of the partiallyhollow frustum is contained within the walls of the frustum and is notemitted from the sides of the frustum (so that no light energy is lost).

In some aspects, the optical shell 956 may include an outer cladding 958that may surround an optically conducting medium 959. The opticallyconducting medium 959 may be hollow throughout the length of the opticalshell 956 or it may taper to a complete flat surface having no annulusat the top surface of the frustum.

The top surface of the optical shell 956 may have a diameter 960 of anoptical fiber 950. In some aspects, light emitted from the top surfaceof the optical shell 956 may be directed towards a receiving surface ofan optical coupler. The transmitting surface of the optical coupler maydirect light onto an end surface of an optical fiber core 952 of anoptical fiber 950. The optical fiber 950 may also include an externalcladding 953.

Although the optical shell 956 may be formed as a frustum (a section ofa right circular cone), it may be recognized that the optical shell 956may take on any of a variety of shapes consistent with its function. Forexample, as depicted in FIG. 9, the optical shell 956 may take the formof a bent frustum in which the central axis of the frustum is not a linebut a curve, although the base of the central axis may be orthogonal tothe surface of the substrate 220.

In the aspect 900 a depicted in FIG. 9, the light reflected by themirrors 242 is directly focused on the annular base surface 957 of theoptical shell 956, thereby requiring no focusing lens. In the aspect 900b depicted in FIG. 10, the light reflected by the mirrors 242 isdirected to a system of one or more focusing lenses 1030,1032 whichfocus the light on the annular base surface 1057 of the optical shell1056. In some aspects, the system of one or more focusing lenses 1030,1032 may constitute any one or more, or combination of, collimatinglenses and focusing lenses. In some examples, the system of one or morefocusing lenses 1030,1032 may produce a de-magnified image of themultiplicity of diode sources on the annular base surface 1057 of theoptically conducting medium of the optical shell 1056. It may berecognized that the optical shell 1056 of the photon source 900 b havinga system of one or more focusing lenses 1030, 1032, may have a smallertaper than the optical shell 956 depicted in the photon source 900 aillustrated in FIG. 9 (which lacks such a system of focusing lenses). Insome aspects, the smaller taper may be easier to manufacture. In someother non-limiting aspects, the optical shell 1056 may lack the claddinglayer 958 depicted with respect to photon source 900 a. Such an opticalshell 1056 may be characterized as being a capillary optical shell,which may incorporate a taper. In some aspects, the capillary opticalshell 1056 may lack a taper and may be characterized as a cylindricalfiber capillary.

FIG. 10A depicts an end view of the optical shell annular base surface1057 on which the reflected light may be focused. It may be recognizedthat the laser light from the plurality of optical emitters 240 may befocused on the optically conducting medium 1059 of the optical shellannular base surface 1057. In some aspects, the optical shell 1056 maybe tapered to a solid rod fiber (by collapsing the center hole). In someaspects, the optical shell annular base surface 1057 may becharacterized by an inner diameter d1 and an outer diameter d2.

FIG. 11 depicts an example of the placement of the annular base surface1157 of the optical shell with respect to the ring of reflecting mirrors1142 for photon source 900 b. It may be understood that the valuesdisclosed herein are examples only, and that a photon source 900 b maybe fabricated to include any number of mirrors and lenses, for example.The following disclosure presents some sample calculations for thephoton source 900 b. In these calculations, the variable Bpp correspondsto a beam parameter product defined as the beam width (in mm) multipliedby the beam full divergence (in radians).

In one example, the slow-axis Bpp of the beam at the mirror surface maybe about 7 mm-mrad and the fast-axis Bpp of the beam at the mirrorsurface may be about 0.3 mm-mrad, assuming that the Bpp is invariant. Inthis example, the beam size on the mirrors 1142 may be <2 mm, so amirror having a length of about 2 mm will not lose any light. Suchexemplary values may be possible if, after collimation by the slow-axiscollimator/fast-axis collimator lenses, the distance from an opticalemitter to a mirror 1142 is kept small based on the optical geometry ofthe slow-axis collimator lens and the fast-axis collimator lens. In thepresent example, the reflecting mirrors 1142 may form an octagon havinga length of about 2 mm on each side. Such a geometry may be useful for aphoton source composed of 8 emitters. It may be recognized that a photonsource having N optical emitters will have N mirrors 1142. The effectivediameter of this octagonal array of mirrors 1142 may be about 5 mm.Therefore, the slow axis beam may have a half-width equal to about 1 mmand a half-angle equal to about 7 mrad. Similarly, the fast-axis beammay have a half-width equal to about 0.2 mm and a half-angle equal toabout 1.5 mrad. The optical shell 1056 may be disposed above the ring ofmirrors 1142 and the annular base surface 1157 of the optical shell 1056may have dimensions of an outer diameter d2 equal to about 5 mm and aninner diameter d1 equal to about 4.6 mm, for an optical shell 1056having a fiber wall thickness of about 0.2 mm at the annular basesurface 1157. The numerical aperture of light entering the optical shell1056 (for example, an optical shell having the shape of a capillarytube) is therefore about 7 mrad (slow-axis) and about 1.5 mrad(fast-axis). If the optical shell 1056 is tapered by about a factor of20, the outer diameter at the tapered end may be about 250 μm and theinner diameter at the tapered end may be about 230 μm. Thus, at thetapered end of the optical shell 1056, the slow-axis numerical aperturesmay be about 20×7 mrad or about 140 mrad and the fast-axis numericalapertures may be about 20×1.5 mrad or about 30 mrad. The optical shell1056, tapered to about a 250 μm outer diameter and a 230 μm innerdiameter may be further collapsed adiabatically to form a solid corehaving a total diameter of about 98 μm. Because the optically conductingsurface area is not changed, the numerical apertures should remain thesame. As a result, the output light of 8 optical emitters may becontained in an optical core having a diameter of about 98 μm and amaximum numerical aperture of about 140 mrad (NA equals about 0.14). Insome aspects, final numerical aperture (divergence) of the light may belower since the capillary optical shell 1056 may homogenize theslow-axis/fast-axis to result in an effectively lower homogenizednumerical aperture (theoretically almost by half) thus resulting in abrighter output beam.

FIG. 12 depicts a capillary optical shell 1056 which may be used in aphoton source 900 b. The capillary optical shell 1056 may be tapered(arrow T) from the annular base surface 1057 to a circular top surface1255. As depicted in FIG. 12, the light from each of a plurality ofoptical emitters may be imaged 1290 on the optically conducting area ofthe annular base surface 1057. In one example, the optical shell 1056may be fabricated of pure silica. In one aspect, the capillary opticalshell 1056 is adiabatically tapered so that the circular top surface1255 has a surface area that may be about equal to the surface area ofthe optically conducting medium of the capillary walls at the annularbase surface 1057. For example, the optically conducting area at theannular base surface 1057 may be about π/4 (d2 ²−d1 ²) which for somenon-limiting examples, may have a value of about 135² μm². The diameterof the circular top surface 1255 may therefore be about (4/π)^(1/2)times 135 μm. The resulting numerical aperture of the fiber at thecircular top surface 1255 (after adiabatic taper) may be about 0.15. Itmay be understood that the numerical aperture of the light coupled intothe fiber (1290), may be limited to a maximum value of about 0.15.However, a somewhat higher numerical aperture may be tolerated in theslow-axis direction if the numerical aperture of the fast-axis is muchlower. In this manner, the optical shell 1056 may act to homogenize thebeam in the two different directions, so that the numerical aperture ofthe light emitted at the circular top surface 1255 may be uniformly lessthan or about equal to 0.15 NA.

It may be possible to image 1290 the different optical emitters on theoptical shell annular base surface 1057 at dimensions of about 200 μm toabout 400 μm, in a ring like structure, ultimately tapering down to asolid core of 135 μm, and keeping the final numerical aperture to about0.15. In one aspect, this may be done with a short focal lengthcollimating lens (see 1032, FIG. 10) after the main focusing lens (1030,FIG. 10) although some demagnification relative to the main ring may benecessary.

FIG. 13A depicts the base annular surface 1057 of the aspect of thecapillary optical shell 1056 having an inner diameter d1 as disclosedabove with respect to photon source 900 b. FIG. 13B illustrates anotherexample of an optical shell 1356 that includes an outer surface cladding1358 a and an inner surface cladding 1358 b that may surround theoptically conducting medium 1359. The optical shell 1356 may have anouter diameter d2′ and an inner diameter d1′ at its base annular surface1357. The optically conducting medium 1359 may have an annularcross-section characterized by an inner radius r1 and an outer radius r2at the base annular surface 1357. Depending on the diode configurationof the photon source (for example, the number of laser diodes and theirdistributed over a given ring diameter), the correct geometry of thebase annular surface 1357 of the optical shell 1356, including outerdiameter d2′, inner diameter d1′, and radii r1 and r2 may be chosen tomaximize the brightness of coupled light The design may be chosen tomaintain the brightness of the “ring pattern” of the plurality ofoptical emitters, by accommodating for the hollow in the ring of mirrorsby an appropriate hollow fiber design.

FIG. 14 illustrates the base annular surface 1357 of an optical shell1356 having a cladding layer on its outer surface 1358 a and a claddinglayer on its inner surface 1358 b, the cladding layers surrounding theoptical conducting core 1359. As depicted in FIG. 13, the opticalconducting core 1359 may have an annular cross-section of its baseannular surface 1357 characterized by an inner diameter r1 and an outerdiameter r2. This design may provide an added degree of flexibility toadjust the numerical aperture of the shell that the light is coupledinto. In practical terms, if a thin optical shell 1357 is required, thisdesign may provide a better way to capture the light, and taper thestructure down to required dimensions. The outer cladding 1358 a andinner cladding 1358 b may together act as a scaffold to the opticalshell 1356 and support the optically conducting medium 1359 where thelight travels. Handling and packaging of the cladded optical shell 1356may be much easier than for a capillary optical shell (such as 1056,FIG. 10) lacking the cladding layers. For example, the outer diameterd2′ may be fabricated to an arbitrary length because it would have noimpact on the optical characteristics of the optical shell 1356. In oneexample the inner diameter and outer diameter of the optical shell 1356at the tapered end may have values of about 135 μm and 155 μm,respectively. It may be recognized that the value of radius r1 may beclose to the value of d1′/2 so that inner cladding layer 1358 b may bevery small at the tapered end of the optical shell 1356. Fabrication ofa tapered and cladded optical shell 1356 may not be challenging.Further, high numerical aperture mode stripping would be easier withthis design. In some examples, a cladded optical shell 1356 may have anumerical aperture of about 0.2.

The use of a tapered optical shell may result in a match spatially and‘angularly’ as well, especially if the homogenization of the beamdivergence occurs in the optical shell 1356 (without loss ofbrightness). To attain a better angular match at the optical shellannular base surface 1357 (between fast-axis 7 mrad vs. slow-axis 1.5mrad), one may attempt to shrink the fast-axis dimension further toincrease the divergence in this direction, and make the optical shell1356 thinner if it appears that homogenization of the angular divergenceis not taking place in the capillary.

Some additional applications may include using a focusing lens or anadditional collimating lens to reduce the taper the optical shell by alarge ratio. It may be recognized that an optical shell having a taperratio of about 20 may be difficult to fabricate.

As depicted above in FIGS. 9 and 11 through 14, two optical shelldesigns may be considered for accepting light from the diodes. The firstdesign corresponds to a capillary optical shell 1056 light guidingelement as depicted in FIGS. 10, 10A, 11, 12, and 13A. The ring ofdiodes may be imaged 1490 on the base annular surface 1057 of theoptical shell. In some non-limiting examples, the base annular surface1057 may be coated with an anti-reflective coating. The capillaryoptical shell 1056 may be tapered adiabatically to a core diametertypically used to couple light directly from a multi-emitter diodeconfiguration. In some non-limiting example, the core may have adiameter in the range of about 100 μm to about 200 μm. Non-limitingexamples of a core may have a diameter of about 100 μm, about 110 μm,about 120 μm, about 130 μm, about 140 μm, about 150 μm, about 160 μm,about 170 μm, about 180 μm, about 190 μm, about 200 μm, or any value orrange of values therebetween including endpoints. A second designcorresponds to an optical shell design as depicted in FIG. 9, 13B, or 14which may include one or more cladding layers applied either to an outersurface of an optical core, to an inner surface of an optical core, orto both outer surface and inner surface of the optical core. Forexample, optical shell 1356 includes an optically conducting medium 1359disposed between an outer cladding layer 1358 a and an inner claddinglayer 1358 b. The numerical aperture of the optically conducting medium1359 (relative to the cladding layers 1358 a,b) can take on valuesranging from about 0.02 to about 1.0 depending on the degree ofcollimation of light from the diode sources. Non-limiting examples ofthe numerical aperture of the optically conducting medium 1359 may beabout 0.02, about 0.05, about 0.1, about 0.2, about 0.5, about 1.0, orany value or range of values therebetween including endpoints. One canview this design as the more general design that approaches thecapillary optical shell 1056 at the limit of r1=d1′/2 and r2/=d2′/2.This general design provides greater flexibility in light capturingabilities compared to the design of optical shell 1056.

It is further worth noting that either of these optical shell designsmay have an optical (low loss) coating, with a specific numericalaperture to provide light guiding in the outermost glass shell and allowfiber handling and attachment capability without affecting the lightguiding properties of the fiber (i.e. no light is lost due to fiberbeing attached to a package).

As depicted above in FIGS. 9 and 10, two additional configurations maybe recognized, one with no focusing lens (photon source 900 a, FIG. 9)and another with one or more focusing lenses (1030, 1032, FIG. 10). Forphoton sources including one or more focusing lenses 1030, 13032, therequired dimensions of the annular base surface of the optical shell maybe relatively small. In some non-limiting examples, the range of thediameters of the annular base surfaces may be from about 200 μm to about400 μm. Further non-limiting examples of the diameters of the annularbase surfaces may be about 200 μm, about 225 μm, about 250 μm, about 275μm, about 300 μm, about 325 μm, about 350 μm, about 375 μm, about 400μm, or any value of range of values therebetween including endpoints.For photon sources, such as photon source 900 a, that do not include anyfocusing lenses, the dimensions of the annular base surface of theoptical shell may be similar to the diameter of the ring of mirrorsreflecting light from the diodes of a photon source, for example, about5 mm. In both cases, the fiber would still have to be tapered down todimensions such that the core diameter of the optical fiber is in therange of about 100 μm to about 200 μm. It may be recognized that it maybe easier to manufacture an optical shell having a diameter that tapersdown from a range of about 200 μm to about 400 um, to a diameter ofabout 100 μm to about 200 μm, than to manufacture an optical shellhaving a diameter that tapers down from about 5 mm to a diameter ofabout 100 μm to about 200 μm.

In some aspects, an optical shell 956 or 1056 as depicted in FIGS. 9 and10, respectively, may have the following characteristics:

A. Taper Characteristics, Exemplary Dimensions

-   -   1) Annular base surface: about 15 mm to about 3 mm;    -   2) Circular top surface: about 1 mm to about 100 μm;    -   3) Taper length: about 100 mm to about 5 mm;    -   4) Wall thickness at the annular base surface: about 3 mm to on        the order of 10's of μm's.

B. Materials of Construction

-   -   1) Any one of a variety of high or low temperature optically        transparent glasses, including, without limitation, fused pure        or doped silica glasses, borosilicate glasses, phosphate        glasses, flint glasses, Soda lime glasses, or ZBLAN glasses,        which may have very limited absorption/scattering/loss in the        laser diode emitted wavelengths of interest (which may range        from about 0.3 μm to about 4.0 μm);    -   2) Crystalline optically transparent materials including,        without limitation, sapphire or diamond, which may also be        tapered and exhibit little or no absorption in the capillary        over the laser diode emitted wavelengths of interest (which may        range from about 0.3 μm to about 4.0 μm).

C. Annular Base Surface Construction:

-   -   1) In one aspect, the annular base surface of the capillary may        be optically flat, fabricated using either cleaving or polishing        techniques;    -   2) In another aspect, annular base surface of the capillary may        be coated with an anti-reflective (AR) coating effective at the        laser diode emitted wavelengths (which may range from about 0.3        μm to about 4.0 μm).

D. Coatings:

-   -   1) In one aspect, the capillary optical shell may have a first        coating comprising any one or more of a variety of materials,        which may include optically transparent low index polymeric        coatings, for example a coating routinely used as a second        cladding in double-clad optical fibers (typically        fluoro-acrylate coatings having a numerical aperture relative to        pure silica of about 0.5 or higher);    -   2) In one aspect, a secondary coating layer of higher modulus        polymer may be disposed on top of the first coating to offer        protection against mechanical damage;    -   3) In one aspect, the capillary optical shell may be coated with        a high quality metal coating that may reflect the light at the        glass metal interface, to minimize optical losses at this        interface.

In some non-limiting aspects, an optical shell 1356 as depicted in FIG.13B may have the following characteristics:

A. Taper Characteristics, Exemplary Dimensions:

-   -   1) Annular base surface: about 15 mm to about 3 mm;    -   2) Circular top surface: about 1 mm to about 100 μm;    -   3) Taper length: about 100 mm to about 5 mm;    -   4) Wall thickness at the annular base surface: about 3 mm to on        the order of 10's of μm's;    -   5) R1 (FIG. 13B): about 0.5 mm to about 50 μm;    -   6) R2 (FIG. 13B) about 7.5 mm to about 1.5 mm;    -   7) Numerical aperture of optical conducting medium (1359, FIG.        13B): about 0.05 to about 2.0.

B. Materials and Construction:

-   -   1) Any one of a variety of high or low temperature optically        transparent glasses, including, without limitation, fused pure        or doped silica glasses, borosilicate glasses, phosphate        glasses, flint glasses, Soda lime glasses, or ZBLAN glasses,        which may have very limited absorption/scattering/loss in the        laser diode emitted wavelengths of interest (which may range        from about 0.3 μm to about 4.0 μm);    -   2) The cladding material may be applied using MCVD (modified        Chemical Vapor Deposition), PCVD (plasma chemical vapor        deposition), by an outside vapor deposition processes, or with a        double crucible method;    -   3) Crystalline optically transparent materials including,        without limitation, sapphire or diamond, which may also be        tapered and exhibit little or no absorption in the capillary        over the laser diode emitted wavelengths of interest (which may        range from about 0.3 μm to about 4.0 μm).

C. Annular Base Surface Construction:

-   -   1) In one aspect, the annular base surface of the capillary may        be optically flat, fabricated using either cleaving or polishing        techniques;    -   2) In another aspect, annular base surface of the capillary may        be coated with an anti-reflective (AR) coating effective at the        laser diode emitted wavelengths (which may range from about 0.3        μm to about 4.0 μm).

D. Coatings:

-   -   1) In one aspect, the capillary optical shell may have a first        coating comprising any one or more of a variety of materials,        which may include optically transparent low index polymeric        coatings, for example a coating routinely used as a second        cladding in double-clad optical fibers (typically        fluoro-acrylate coatings having a numerical aperture relative to        pure silica of about 0.5 or higher);    -   2) In one aspect, a secondary coating layer of higher modulus        polymer may be disposed on top of the first coating to offer        protection against mechanical damage;    -   3) In one aspect, the capillary may also be coated with high        quality carbon or metal coating, which may act only as a        protective element, since very little light should interact with        it (due to the bulk of the light being guided in the optically        conducting medium).

FIG. 15A depicts the relative refractive index (in cross-section) of anoptical shell as depicted in FIG. 13A. FIG. 15B depicts the relativerefractive index (in cross-section) of an optical shell as depicted inFIG. 13B particularly indicating the difference in refractive index ofthe optical receiving material compared to the surface cladding.

It may be recognized any of the optical shells disclosed above (see, forexample, 956 in FIG. 9,1056 in FIGS. 10, 10A, 11, 12, and 13A, and 1356in FIGS. 13B and 14) may be used in conjunction with any of the photonsources 200, 400, 500, 600, or 800 as previously disclosed.

FIGS. 16 and 17 depict schematically the use of the light generated byany of the aspects of a photon source as disclosed above in an automated(robotic) cutting or welding device. In FIG. 16, the output of thephoton source may be used as the optical pump source for a working laser(for example a CO₂ gas laser or a Nd:YAG laser). In FIG. 16, the outputof the photon source may be used directly as the working laser for theindustrial application. In each case, the automated cutting device mayinclude a movable arm to position the output laser beam with respect toa work surface.

In some aspects, the automated cutting or welding device may includeactuator components configured to move one or more mechanical componentsof the automated cutting or welding device, for example, extendable armcomponents. The actuators may include, without limitation,electromechanical actuators (such as any type of motor), hydraulicactuators, and pneumatic actuators. The actuators may also incorporateany one or more auxiliary components such as gears, hoses, and valves,as may be required to effect any mechanical motion of the automatedcutting device.

The automated cutting device may further include any electrical and/orelectronic components to control any of the actuator components(including the auxiliary components). Such electrical and/or electroniccomponents may include, without limitation, electronic motor controlcomponents and electronic valve actuator components,

The automated cutting or welding device may further incorporate one ormore sensor elements, configured to sense any one or more activities,mechanical positions, or other functional aspects of the cutting deviceor any of its mechanical components. Non-limiting examples of suchsensors may include positional sensors (such as angular positionsensors, and linear position sensors), velocity sensors (linear androtational), limit switches, pressure sensors, and voltage and/orcurrent sensors.

The automated cutting or welding device may include a control unitconfigured to direct the position of the movable arm as well as tocontrol the output laser beam. The control unit may be actuated by anoperator, or may include one or more automated control features. Thecontrol unit may comprise any number or type of automated controlelectronic hardware including one or more processors, memory units,electrical interfaces, along with one or more electrical bus structuresto permit the exchange of data among and between the electronic hardwarecomponents. In some aspects, the electrical interfaces may receive datafrom any one or more of the sensor elements. In some other aspects, theelectrical interfaces may transmit data to any one or more of theelectrical and/or electronic components configured to control any of theactuator components. In some aspects, the memory units may includememory devices that may stored one or more instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor, may result in the control of the actuatorsand/or the working laser light source.

Reference throughout the specification to “various aspects,” “someaspects,” “one example,” or “one aspect” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theaspect is included in at least one example. Thus, appearances of thephrases “in various aspects,” “in some aspects,” “in one example,” or“in one aspect” in places throughout the specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same aspect. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated ordescribed in connection with one example may be combined, in whole or inpart, with features, structures, or characteristics of one or more otheraspects without limitation.

While various aspects herein have been illustrated by description ofseveral aspects and while the illustrative embodiments have beendescribed in considerable detail, it is not the intention of theapplicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appendedclaims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications mayreadily appear to those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that at least some of the figures anddescriptions herein have been simplified to illustrate elements that arerelevant for a clear understanding of the disclosure, while eliminating,for purposes of clarity, other elements. Those of ordinary skill in theart will recognize, however, that these and other elements may bedesirable. However, because such elements are well known in the art, andbecause they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure,a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.

While several aspects have been described, it should be apparent,however, that various modifications, alterations and adaptations tothose embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art with theattainment of some or all of the advantages of the disclosure. Forexample, according to various aspects, a single component may bereplaced by multiple components, and multiple components may be replacedby a single component, to perform a given function or functions. Thisapplication is therefore intended to cover all such modifications,alterations and adaptations without departing from the scope and spiritof the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or inpart, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein isincorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materialsdoes not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or otherdisclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to theextent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth hereinsupersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference.Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated byreference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions,statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only beincorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between thatincorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

While various details have been set forth in the foregoing description,it will be appreciated that the various aspects of the techniques foroperating a generator for digitally generating electrical signalwaveforms and surgical instruments may be practiced without thesespecific details. One skilled in the art will recognize that the hereindescribed components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and thediscussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake ofconceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications arecontemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars setforth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representativeof their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplaris intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion ofspecific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should notbe taken limiting.

Further, while several forms have been illustrated and described, it isnot the intention of the applicant to restrict or limit the scope of theappended claims to such detail. Numerous modifications, variations,changes, substitutions, combinations, and equivalents to those forms maybe implemented and will occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, thestructure of each element associated with the described forms can bealternatively described as a means for providing the function performedby the element. Also, where materials are disclosed for certaincomponents, other materials may be used. It is therefore to beunderstood that the foregoing description and the appended claims areintended to cover all such modifications, combinations, and variationsas falling within the scope of the disclosed forms. The appended claimsare intended to cover all such modifications, variations, changes,substitutions, modifications, and equivalents.

For conciseness and clarity of disclosure, selected aspects of theforegoing disclosure have been shown in block diagram form rather thanin detail. Some portions of the detailed descriptions provided hereinmay be presented in terms of instructions that operate on data that isstored in one or more computer memories or one or more data storagedevices (e.g. floppy disk, hard disk drive, Compact Disc (CD), DigitalVideo Disk (DVD), or digital tape). Such descriptions andrepresentations are used by those skilled in the art to describe andconvey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Ingeneral, an algorithm refers to a self-consistent sequence of stepsleading to a desired result, where a “step” refers to a manipulation ofphysical quantities and/or logic states which may, though need notnecessarily, take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable ofbeing stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwisemanipulated. It is common usage to refer to these signals as bits,values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.These and similar terms may be associated with the appropriate physicalquantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantitiesand/or states.

Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the foregoingdisclosure, it is appreciated that, throughout the foregoing disclosure,discussions using terms such as “processing” or “computing” or“calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to theaction and processes of a computer system, or similar electroniccomputing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented asphysical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registersand memories into other data similarly represented as physicalquantities within the computer system memories or registers or othersuch information storage, transmission or display devices.

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, orany combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various typesof “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electricalcircuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry havingat least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of randomaccess memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communicationsdevice (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electricalequipment). Those having skill in the art will recognize that thesubject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog ordigital fashion or some combination thereof.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various forms of thedevices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples can beimplemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. Inone form, several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via an application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP),or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the forms disclosed herein, in whole orin part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as oneor more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as oneor more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one ormore programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or moreprograms running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or asvirtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitryand/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be wellwithin the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that themechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of beingdistributed as one or more program products in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative form of the subject matter described herein appliesregardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used toactually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing mediuminclude, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type mediumsuch as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a DigitalVideo Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter,receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).

In some instances, one or more elements may be described using theexpression “coupled” and “connected” along with their derivatives. Itshould be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms foreach other. For example, some aspects may be described using the term“connected” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physicalor electrical contact with each other. In another example, some aspectsmay be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or moreelements are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term“coupled,” however, also may mean that two or more elements are not indirect contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interactwith each other. It is to be understood that depicted architectures ofdifferent components contained within, or connected with, differentother components are merely examples, and that in fact many otherarchitectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality.In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the samefunctionality is effectively “associated” such that the desiredfunctionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined toachieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” eachother such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated also can be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated also can be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelesslyinteracting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logicallyinteractable components, and/or electrically interacting components,and/or electrically interactable components, and/or opticallyinteracting components, and/or optically interactable components.

In other instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,”“adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that “configured to” can generallyencompass active-state components and/or inactive-state componentsand/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise.

While particular aspects of the present disclosure have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, basedupon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the subject matter described herein and its broaderaspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass withintheir scope all such changes and modifications as are within the truescope of the subject matter described herein. It will be understood bythose within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especiallyin the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) aregenerally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should beinterpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” shouldbe interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should beinterpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will befurther understood by those within the art that if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will beexplicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitationno such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, thefollowing appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases“at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations.However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply thatthe introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimrecitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when thesame claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at leastone” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an”should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one ormore”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used tointroduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitationis explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that suchrecitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recitednumber (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “Aor B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art willappreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed inany order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in asequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may beperformed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may beperformed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may includeoverlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental,preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variantorderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like“responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives aregenerally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictatesotherwise.

It is worthy to note that any reference to “one aspect,” “an aspect,”“one form,” or “a form” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the aspect is included in atleast one aspect. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one aspect,” “inan aspect,” “in one form,” or “in an form” in various places throughoutthe specification are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect.Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more aspects.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

In certain cases, use of a system or method may occur in a territoryeven if components are located outside the territory. For example, in adistributed computing context, use of a distributed computing system mayoccur in a territory even though parts of the system may be locatedoutside of the territory (e.g., relay, server, processor, signal-bearingmedium, transmitting computer, receiving computer, etc. located outsidethe territory).

A sale of a system or method may likewise occur in a territory even ifcomponents of the system or method are located and/or used outside theterritory. Further, implementation of at least part of a system forperforming a method in one territory does not preclude use of the systemin another territory.

All of the above-mentioned U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications, non-patent publications referred to in this specificationand/or listed in any Application Data Sheet, or any other disclosurematerial are incorporated herein by reference, to the extent notinconsistent herewith. As such, and to the extent necessary, thedisclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflictingmaterial incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portionthereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but whichconflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosurematerial set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent thatno conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existingdisclosure material.

In summary, numerous benefits have been described which result fromemploying the concepts described herein. The foregoing description ofthe one or more forms has been presented for purposes of illustrationand description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. The one or more forms were chosen anddescribed in order to illustrate principles and practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the variousforms and with various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated. It is intended that the claims submitted herewith definethe overall scope.

Various aspects of the subject matter described herein are set out inthe following numbered examples:

Example 1

A photon source comprising:

a substrate defining a planar surface;

an optical shell comprising a hollow frustum, wherein the hollow frustumfurther comprises an annular base surface having a first outer diameterand a top surface having a second outer diameter, and the annular basesurface is disposed above the planar surface; and

a plurality of optical sources, wherein each optical source comprises:

-   -   a mirror disposed on the substrate having a reflecting surface        defining a first predetermined angle relative to the planar        surface of the substrate, wherein the reflecting surface is        configured to reflect a collimated optical beam incident on the        reflecting surface away from the planar surface of the substrate        at a second predetermined angle relative to the planar surface        of the substrate; and    -   an optical emitter disposed on the substrate wherein the optical        emitter is optically aligned with the mirror along an optical        axis and configured to emit the collimated optical beam along        the optical axis,    -   wherein the mirror is configured to reflect the collimated        optical beam onto the annular base surface of the optical shell;

wherein a plurality of mirrors comprises, collectively, each mirror ofthe plurality of optical sources, and the plurality of mirrors isarranged in a first ring-like configuration defining a first diameter,wherein the annular base surface of the optical shell is disposed abovethe first ring-like configuration of the plurality of mirrors,

wherein a plurality of optical emitters comprises, collectively, eachoptical emitter of the plurality of optical sources, and the pluralityof optical emitters is arranged in a second ring-like configurationdefining a second diameter, and

wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and thesecond ring-like configuration is concentric with the first ring-likeconfiguration.

Example 2

The photon source of Example 1, wherein the optical emitter of each ofthe plurality of optical sources comprises:

a laser diode configured to emit an optical beam from an output facet;

a first collimating lens optically aligned with the laser diode, whereinthe first collimating lens is configured to collimate the optical beamemitted from the laser diode; and

a second collimating lens optically aligned with the first collimatinglens and the output facet wherein the second collimating lens isconfigured to collimate the optical beam emitted from the firstcollimating lens along the optical axis and transmit the collimatedoptical beam.

Example 3

The photon source of Example 2, wherein each laser diode is mounted onthe substrate and the substrate is configured to dissipate heatgenerated by each laser diode when each laser diode receives electricalpower.

Example 4

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 2 through 3, whereineach emitted optical beam emitted by each laser diode has a wavelengthof 200 nm to 2000 nm.

Example 5

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 2 through 4, whereinthe first collimating lens is a fast collimating lens and the secondcollimating lens is a slow collimating lens.

Example 6

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 1 through 5, whereinthe plurality of optical sources is arranged symmetrically on the planarsurface of the substrate.

Example 7

The photon source of Example 6, wherein the plurality of optical sourcesposses an N-fold rotational axis of symmetry orthogonal to the planarsurface of the substrate, wherein N is an integer that ranges from 2 to50.

Example 8

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 1 through 7, whereinthe substrate defines a circular periphery.

Example 9

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 1 through 7, whereinthe substrate defines a polygonal periphery comprising a plurality ofsides.

Example 10

The photon source of Example 9, wherein the plurality of sides rangesfrom 2 to 50.

Example 11

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 9 through 10, whereineach optical emitter of the plurality of optical sources is disposedadjacent to one of the plurality of sides of the polygonal periphery.

Example 12

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 1 through 11, whereinthe top surface of the optical shell is a top annular surface of theoptical shell.

Example 13

The photon source of Example 12, wherein the first outer diameter isequal to the second outer diameter and the optical shell comprises atruncated hollow cylinder.

Example 14

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 12 through 13, whereinthe first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter,

Example 15

The photon source of Example 14, wherein the first outer diameter of theannular base surface is 5 mm and a first inner diameter of the annularbase surface is 4.6 mm, and

wherein the second outer diameter of the top annular surface is 250 μmand a second inner diameter of the annular top surface is 230 μm.

Example 16

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 1 through 15, whereinthe top surface of the optical shell is a top circular surface of theoptical shell.

Example 17

The photon source of Example 16, wherein the first outer diameter of theannular base surface is 5 mm and a first inner diameter of the annularbase surface is 4.6 mm, and

wherein the second outer diameter of the top circular surface is 98 μm.

Example 18

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 1 through 17, whereinthe optical shell has an outer surface and an inner surface, and furthercomprises an outer cladding disposed on the outer surface and an innercladding disposed on the inner surface.

Example 19

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 1 through 18, furthercomprising a focus lens having an acceptance angle and disposed abovethe top surface of the optical shell, wherein top surface of the opticalshell is configured to direct an optical output within the acceptanceangle of the focus lens.

Example 20

The photon source of any one or more of Examples 1 through 19, furthercomprising an optical coupler configured to receive an optical output ofthe optical shell at a first coupler surface, and to receive an end of afiber optic cable at a second coupler surface.

Example 21

A photon source comprising:

a substrate defining a planar surface;

a focus lens disposed above the planar surface, the focus lens definingan acceptance angle;

an optical shell comprising a hollow frustum, wherein the hollow frustumfurther comprises an annular base surface having a first outer diameterand a top surface having a second outer diameter, and the annular basesurface is disposed above the focus lens; and

a plurality of optical sources, wherein each optical source comprises:

-   -   a mirror disposed on the substrate having a reflecting surface        defining a first predetermined angle relative to the planar        surface of the substrate, wherein the reflecting surface is        configured to reflect a collimated optical beam incident on the        reflecting surface away from the planar surface of the substrate        at a second predetermined angle relative to the planar surface        of the substrate; and    -   an optical emitter disposed on the substrate wherein the optical        emitter is optically aligned with the mirror along an optical        axis and configured to emit the collimated optical beam along        the optical axis,    -   wherein the mirror is configured to reflect the collimated        optical beam within the acceptance angle of the focus lens;    -   wherein the focus lens is configured to direct a lens optical        output onto the annular base surface of the optical shell;

wherein a plurality of mirrors comprises, collectively, each mirror ofthe plurality of optical sources, and the plurality of mirrors isarranged in a first ring-like configuration defining a first diameter,wherein the focus lens is disposed above the first ring-likeconfiguration of the plurality of mirrors,

wherein a plurality of optical emitters comprises, collectively, eachoptical emitter of the plurality of optical sources, and the pluralityof optical emitters is arranged in a second ring-like configurationdefining a second diameter, and

wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and thesecond ring-like configuration is concentric with the first ring-likeconfiguration.

1. A photon source comprising: a substrate defining a planar surface; anoptical shell comprising a hollow frustum, wherein the hollow frustumfurther comprises an annular base surface having a first outer diameterand a top surface having a second outer diameter, and the annular basesurface is disposed above the planar surface; and a plurality of opticalsources, wherein each optical source comprises: a mirror disposed on thesubstrate having a reflecting surface defining a first predeterminedangle relative to the planar surface of the substrate, wherein thereflecting surface is configured to reflect a collimated optical beamincident on the reflecting surface away from the planar surface of thesubstrate at a second predetermined angle relative to the planar surfaceof the substrate; and an optical emitter disposed on the substratewherein the optical emitter is optically aligned with the mirror alongan optical axis and configured to emit the collimated optical beam alongthe optical axis, wherein the mirror is configured to reflect thecollimated optical beam onto the annular base surface of the opticalshell; wherein a plurality of mirrors comprises, collectively, eachmirror of the plurality of optical sources, and the plurality of mirrorsis arranged in a first ring-like configuration defining a firstdiameter, wherein the annular base surface of the optical shell isdisposed above the first ring-like configuration of the plurality ofmirrors, wherein a plurality of optical emitters comprises,collectively, each optical emitter of the plurality of optical sources,and the plurality of optical emitters is arranged in a second ring-likeconfiguration defining a second diameter, and wherein the first diameteris smaller than the second diameter and the second ring-likeconfiguration is concentric with the first ring-like configuration. 2.The photon source of claim 1, wherein the optical emitter of each of theplurality of optical sources comprises: a laser diode configured to emitan optical beam from an output facet; a first collimating lens opticallyaligned with the laser diode, wherein the first collimating lens isconfigured to collimate the optical beam emitted from the laser diode;and a second collimating lens optically aligned with the firstcollimating lens and the output facet wherein the second collimatinglens is configured to collimate the optical beam emitted from the firstcollimating lens along the optical axis and transmit the collimatedoptical beam.
 3. The photon source of claim 2, wherein each laser diodeis mounted on the substrate and the substrate is configured to dissipateheat generated by each laser diode when each laser diode receiveselectrical power.
 4. The photon source of claim 2, wherein each emittedoptical beam emitted by each laser diode has a wavelength of 200 nm to2000 nm.
 5. The photon source of claim 2, wherein the first collimatinglens is a fast collimating lens and the second collimating lens is aslow collimating lens.
 6. The photon source of claim 1, wherein theplurality of optical sources is arranged symmetrically on the planarsurface of the substrate.
 7. The photon source of claim 6, wherein theplurality of optical sources posses an N-fold rotational axis ofsymmetry orthogonal to the planar surface of the substrate, wherein N isan integer that ranges from 2 to
 50. 8. The photon source of claim 1,wherein the substrate defines a circular periphery.
 9. The photon sourceof claim 1, wherein the substrate defines a polygonal peripherycomprising a plurality of sides.
 10. The photon source of claim 9,wherein the plurality of sides ranges from 2 to
 50. 11. The photonsource of claim 9, wherein each optical emitter of the plurality ofoptical sources is disposed adjacent to one of the plurality of sides ofthe polygonal periphery.
 12. The photon source of claim 1, wherein thetop surface of the optical shell is a top annular surface of the opticalshell.
 13. The photon source of claim 12, wherein the first outerdiameter is equal to the second outer diameter and the optical shellcomprises a truncated hollow cylinder.
 14. The photon source of claim12, wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outerdiameter.
 15. The photon source of claim 14, wherein the first outerdiameter of the annular base surface is 5 mm and a first inner diameterof the annular base surface is 4.6 mm, and wherein the second outerdiameter of the top annular surface is 250 μm and a second innerdiameter of the annular top surface is 230 μm.
 16. The photon source ofclaim 1, wherein the top surface of the optical shell is a top circularsurface of the optical shell.
 17. The photon source of claim 16, whereinthe first outer diameter of the annular base surface is 5 mm and a firstinner diameter of the annular base surface is 4.6 mm, and wherein thesecond outer diameter of the top circular surface is 98 μm.
 18. Thephoton source of claim 1, wherein the optical shell has an outer surfaceand an inner surface, and further comprises an outer cladding disposedon the outer surface and an inner cladding disposed on the innersurface.
 19. The photon source of claim 1, further comprising a focuslens having an acceptance angle and disposed above the top surface ofthe optical shell, wherein top surface of the optical shell isconfigured to direct an optical output within the acceptance angle ofthe focus lens.
 20. The photon source of claim 1, further comprising anoptical coupler configured to receive an optical output of the opticalshell at a first coupler surface, and to receive an end of a fiber opticcable at a second coupler surface.
 21. A photon source comprising: asubstrate defining a planar surface; a focus lens disposed above theplanar surface, the focus lens defining an acceptance angle; an opticalshell comprising a hollow frustum, wherein the hollow frustum furthercomprises an annular base surface having a first outer diameter and atop surface having a second outer diameter, and the annular base surfaceis disposed above the focus lens; and a plurality of optical sources,wherein each optical source comprises: a mirror disposed on thesubstrate having a reflecting surface defining a first predeterminedangle relative to the planar surface of the substrate, wherein thereflecting surface is configured to reflect a collimated optical beamincident on the reflecting surface away from the planar surface of thesubstrate at a second predetermined angle relative to the planar surfaceof the substrate; and an optical emitter disposed on the substratewherein the optical emitter is optically aligned with the mirror alongan optical axis and configured to emit the collimated optical beam alongthe optical axis, wherein the mirror is configured to reflect thecollimated optical beam within the acceptance angle of the focus lens;wherein the focus lens is configured to direct a lens optical outputonto the annular base surface of the optical shell; wherein a pluralityof mirrors comprises, collectively, each mirror of the plurality ofoptical sources, and the plurality of mirrors is arranged in a firstring-like configuration defining a first diameter, wherein the focuslens is disposed above the first ring-like configuration of theplurality of mirrors, wherein a plurality of optical emitters comprises,collectively, each optical emitter of the plurality of optical sources,and the plurality of optical emitters is arranged in a second ring-likeconfiguration defining a second diameter, and wherein the first diameteris smaller than the second diameter and the second ring-likeconfiguration is concentric with the first ring-like configuration.